Farley recommends opening any socially-forced conversation with a "wry observation phrased as a question," rather than jamming out your hand for a shake or blurting your name. You could, in certain situations, wonder aloud whether you're at a popular tech conference or a massive iPhone field test. Or wonder aloud what everyone at the office is thinking, with just a hint of rebellious humor. However you break in, you should start thinking ahead into how you'll further affirm your rapport:

As you listen to the reply, prep your next move. Aim for 15-second bursts that segue into further questions.

The How-To snippets are short enough you could almost text them to yourself, and certainly condense with some acronyms, if you really needed a last-minute guide. What's the most surprisingly effective way you've found to get over shyness and chat someone up? Hit us up in the comments.